Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo burst on the scene in
1970 as Chevy’s debonair entry in the burgeoning personal-luxury car category.
As this article makes clear, the Monte Carlo eventually came to occupy a much
wider field.

Discover how the Chevrolet Monte Carlo went
from the boulevard to the backstretch as it took its place among NASCAR’s winningest racecars ever. And learn how the Chevrolet Monte Carlo
sustained the tradition of the midsize American coupe into the 21st century.

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo debuted for 1970 as
competition for the Ford Thunderbird. It maintained its two-door configuration
throughout a run that, with just one interruption, lasted until the end of the
2007 model year.

Learn about a proud lineage that included the
early and rare Monte Carlo SS model with a 454-cubic-inch V-8, a timely downsizing for 1977, the revival of an SS model for 1983, and the last of the rear-drive models for 1989.

Again reflecting the tenor of its times, the 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo marked a transition from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive for Chevy's premier personal car. It
was still a coupe, still had midsize dimensions, and still was a true
Chevrolet.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was Chevy's first "personal-luxury" model.

The
1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, an all-new "personal-luxury"
coupe, was billed as "a fine car
at a Chevrolet price." Stylish and luxurious, the Monte rode a
modified 116-inch Chevelle sedan platform but showed little kinship with
mid-size Chevrolets -- except at the front, which used two headlights instead
of the Chevelle's four -- and was intended as a rival to Ford's Thunderbird.

Long-hood/short-deck styling was sleek and well proportioned
despite the car's ample 205-inch length. Monte Carlo's near-classic profile was
enhanced by rear fender skirts, and its six-foot hood was the longest ever
installed on a Chevrolet.

Monte Carlos were offered only with V-8 power: a 250-horsepower
350-cubic-inch engine was standard, with the option of a 300-horsepower 350, a
265-horsepower Turbo-Fire 400 or, for just $111, a 330-horsepower 400.

Every 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo had power front disc brakes, concealed wipers, low-profile 15-inch
tires, full wheel covers, Astro Ventilation, and an electric clock. Like most
Chevrolets, they could be impressively personalized by scrutinizing the options
list, perhaps starting with a vinyl top in five available colors.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1971 Monte Carlo kept the smart, clean lines of the 1970 model.

The 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was not much different from the 1970 Monte Carlo, as expected of an all-new model in its second season: a new grille with a finer mesh pattern, a stand-up hood ornament, and square parking lights to replace the original round units.

Critics often ridiculed the Monte Carlo's instrument panel with its simulated Carpathian burled elm trim, but the interior satisfied many an owner. As the sales brochure noted, "only termites will know the difference." Essentially, though, gauges were Chevelle-based.

Chevrolet insisted that a Monte was "still the only car of its kind made in the U.S.A.," promising solid value, luxury, style, dependability, resale value -- and craftsmanship. In addition to luxury goodies, the options list contained several performance items.

Like other GM models, Monte Carlo suffered in production as a result of a lengthy strike early in the model year. Output dropped just slightly, to 128,600 cars from the prior year's 130,657.

Top engine was the 270-horsepower (net) 454-cubic-inch V-8,
followed by a 240-horsepower 402-cubic-inch V-8 -- still called a
"396." The 454 V-8 cost an extra $261, while the 402 added $142 to a
Monte's sticker.

Californians had to be content with a 165- or 175-horsepower
350-cubic-inch V-8 because the larger engines failed to meet that state's
emissions standards.

"Owning a Monte Carlo is kind of like having your cake and
driving it too," Chevrolet insisted, blending the best virtues of the
luxury car and the sporty car. Base-priced at $3,362, the Monte Carlo could be
fitted with a long list of luxury conveniences to suit its owner.

No more Super Sport options were available as marketers did not
want to dilute the Monte Carlo's luxury image. Lack of such fittings as a floor
shift or hood scoops was seen as a bonus, rather than a detriment, for this
"beautifully quiet, quietly beautiful" coupe.

Only modest changes were made to the 1972 Monte Carlo.

1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight (lbs.)

Price (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,506

$3,362

180,819

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo styling followed a curvier muse for 1973.

The 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, fully redesigned inside and out, was promoted
as a personal luxury car at a Chevrolet price. Even so, sport options could
transform the coupe into a respectable performer.

A tachometer and extra gauges
could be installed, and engine selections still included the big-block 454-cubic-inch
V-8. Before departing to form his own company in 1972, general manager John Z.
DeLorean had ordered that Monte Carlo suspensions be sport-tuned, to become
better rivals to the top imported sedans.

Overall
length grew by four inches, width by two. Styling may have changed
dramatically, but the car's basic long-hood/short-deck theme remained evident.

Owners gave high marks to the new Monte Carlo's quiet luxury,
fine performance, and excellent handling characteristics. The redesigned suspension
also gained the approval of road-testers at the car-buff magazines.

Improved
ride/handling came as a result of the car's full-coil suspension, radial-ply
tires, and "wide-stance" chassis with front and rear stabilizer bars.

Engine choices began with a 307-cubic-inch V-8 and included a
pair of 350-cubic-inch V-8s as well as the big 454 (now rated at 245
horsepower). No more 402-cubic-inch engines were available.

Production totaled an impressive 290,693 Monte Carlos in three
trim levels: seldom-seen sport coupe, best-selling "S" coupe, and a
Landau sport coupe that ranked in the middle of the sales picture. Motor Trend
voted the Monte Carlo Landau its Car of the Year.

Monte Carlo options included
a vinyl top at $123 and an open-it-up Sky Roof for $325. Landau editions had
special sail-panel emblems, fender striping, custom wheels, and a rear
stabilizer bar.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The ritziest 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was this Landau model.

The 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Chevrolet's hot-selling personal-luxury coupe,
gained a new eggcrate-patterned grille and bigger parking lights as part of
refined front and rear styling.

Overall length grew by three inches. Most popular
Monte of the year was the "S," which now served as the base model.
The posh, vinyl-topped Landau also remained on the market, but those were the
only two choices.

The Monte Carlo's base engine again developed 145 horsepower,
while the top 454-cubic-inch V-8 stuck with 245 horses. A 180-horsepower
rendition of Chevrolet's 400-cubic-inch V-8 also was available.

Manually
operated swing-out Strato-bucket seats might be installed, as could a new
power-operated sliding steel Skyroof, which cost $325. The radial-tuned
suspension system earned some refinements.

"Its elegance is basic," the sales brochure explained.
"From the ground up," Monte Carlo was "a car you can be proud
of." A new bright-framed, color-keyed instrument cluster was installed.
The Landau coupe added a vinyl half-roof along with body accent striping, sport
mirrors, Turbine II wheels, and "discriminating" crests.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1975 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo grilles and taillights were restyled for 1975.

The 1975 Chevrolet Monte Carlo coupe, with its vinyl half-roof and narrow rear quarter windows, continued to attract a respectable number of
buyers. A total of 110,380 Landaus were produced versus 148,529 basic
"S" Monte Carlos, which cost $270 less. Total Monte output dropped by
17 percent from the 1974 figure.

Grilles earned a restyling this season. A new wraparound
taillight design brought up the rear. For the last time, Montes could have the
big-block 454-cubic-inch V-8, now rated at 215 horsepower. Base engine was a
145-horsepower 350-cubic-inch V-8 with two-barrel carburetor. For a little more
oomph, two other options could be checked off: a four-barrel, 155-horsepower
rendition of the 350 or a 400-cubic-inch V-8 that eked out 175 horsepower. This
year's Monte Carlos were shod with broader, GR70x15 radial tires.

"When it makes you feel good about yourself," the
sales brochure insisted of the Monte Carlo, "that's character." The
popular coupe was described as "honest, tasteful, with classic design and
elegance." A newly available Custom interior included a choice of a 50/50
reclining passenger seat or swivel bucket seats. Standard interiors had a bench
seat, and the driver faced a color-keyed instrument panel, steering wheel, and
steering column.

The 1975 Monte Carlo Landau could be fitted with an optional Sky-roof.

1975 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight range (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,927-3,930

$4,249-$4,519

258,909

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The Monte Carlo's handsomely sculptedbodysides were unchanged for 1976.

The 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo's production set a record, with a
stunning 353,272 coupes rolling off the assembly line. While many cars
struggled for sales in the mid-Seventies, Chevrolet's personal-luxury coupes
continued to move easily off the showroom floors.

Without question, Montes were
dominating their mid-size market segment. A total of 191,370 "S"
coupes were built, against 161,902 Landau coupes, which cost $293 more.

Revised styling was led by stacked quad headlights and an
elegant new horizontal-slot grille. Cleanly restyled taillights were flatter
and actually plainer in appearance. Top Monte Carlo engine was the
175-horsepower 400-cubic-inch V-8, followed by a pair of 350-cubic-inch
powerplants that whipped up 145 or 165 horses.

A thriftier 140-horsepower 305-cubic-inch
V-8 became the standard engine, but the big-block 454 was gone. Three-speed
Turbo Hydra-Matic was now the standard Monte transmission.

A "Fashion Tone" paint scheme joined the options list,
with contrasting colors on portions of the front fenders, doors, and quarter
panels -- an attempt at a pseudo-classic look. Landau coupes had standard
Turbine II wheel covers, along with a vinyl half-roof and dual sport mirrors.

The 1976 Monte Carlo topped 1975 sales by more than 90,000 units.

1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,907

$4,673-$4,699

353,272

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1977 Monte Carlo's front end hadbecome unappealingly overstyled.

The 1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo's sales continued to be
hearty -- stronger than in 1976, in fact. More "personal-size luxury"
competitors had been scrambling for customers since the Monte Carlo was
introduced in 1970, but Chevrolet's example of the concept remained a stalwart
contender. Shoppers snapped up 224,327 copies of the "S" sport coupe,
along with 186,711 Landau coupes. Prices now started at $4,968, or $5,298 for
the Landau. Only the Oldsmobile Cutlass beat the Monte Carlo in the mid-size
coupe sales race.

Now that full-size Chevrolets had been downsized, they rode the
same 116-inch wheelbase as Monte Carlos. Strangely enough, the Montes weighed
more than the "big" coupes and sedans.

The list of available engines had slimmed down considerably. This
year's Monte Carlo had only two choices: the standard 305-cubic-inch V-8 with a
145-horsepower rating, or an optional 350-cubic-inch V-8 that put out 170
horsepower. All Monte Carlos had Turbo Hydra-Matic.

Grilles now were divided into small segments, and a new hood
ornament carried the Monte Carlo crest. Widened taillights sat lower on the
rear panel and were horizontally segmented. Options included a padded vinyl
roof, sport mirrors, Turbine II wheels, and Rally wheels. Landau coupes had
pinstriping and a vinyl half-roof.

For the 1977 Monte Carlo, taillights were now horizontally segmented.

1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,852

$4,968-$5,298

411,038

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo wasdownsized in the name of fuel economy.

The 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo coupe's downsizing blended with radical
restyling to create a different breed, now aimed at fuel economy. This
third-generation model was a foot shorter and 800 pounds lighter than the 1977.
Less overhang and a tighter turning circle made this Monte easier to manage and
park.

A 231-cubic-inch 105-horsepower V-6 engine was standard -- the first time
six-cylinder power was offered in a Monte Carlo. For a little extra vitality, a
305-cubic-inch V-8 could be installed rated at 145 horsepower, but that was the
limit. The engine upgrade cost just $150 extra. A three-speed manual gearshift
was standard, but California Monte Carlos came only with automatic.

This "trim and timely new edition" with "stately
stance and sculptured sides," the sales brochure insisted, "retains
the unique personality of Monte Carlos past." It was "beautifully in
tune with the times, yet emphatically apart from the crowd." The new front
end held a grid-patterned grille flanked by single rectangular headlights.

Chevrolet pushed the interior as a personal "driver's
suite," in a car that "demands to be driven." Fresh styling
included a delta-spoked soft-vinyl steering wheel and a padded dashboard.

Options included power locks, Rally wheels (for the sport coupe only),
Strato-bucket seats, a Power Skyroof, power windows, and a power trunk opener.
The Monte Carlo's road-tuned suspension included front and rear stabilizer
bars.

Of the 358,191 Monte Carlos produced in the 1978 model year,
less than 40 percent were Landau coupes rather than basic sport coupes. The
Monte Carlo Landau came with an automatic transmission, deluxe wheel covers,
sport mirrors, pinstriping, elk-grain vinyl rear roof cover, and wide sill
moldings.

Monte Carlos shared their platform, on a 108-inch wheelbase,
with the "new-size" Malibus -- which were a foot shorter and as much
as half a ton lighter than equivalent 1977 Chevelles.

The 1978 Monte Carlo retained the general lines of earlier models.

1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight range (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,040-3,175

$4,785-$5,828

358,191 (approx.)

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

The 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo coupe was nearly unchanged after a dramatic
redesign for 1978.

The few changes to the 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo included a fine-patterned crosshatch
grille, segmented parking lights, and wraparound taillights. As usual, color
and trim selections were also different.

Landau versions of the 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo displayed a new
canopy-style vinyl roof treatment, described as "an aristocratic arch of
textured padded vinyl." Landaus had pinstriping and black rocker panels,
as well as deluxe wheel covers and sport mirrors.

Performance might have been meager compared to certain Montes of
the past, but shoppers had four engines to choose from: a 94-horsepower 200-cubic-inch
V-6, 115-horsepower 231-cubic-inch V-6, 125-horsepower 267-cubic-inch V-8, and
the strongman of the quartet -- a 160-horsepower 305-cubic-inch V-8.

The 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlos sold in California made do with two engine choices: a 231-cubic-inch (3.8-liter) V-6 or the
305 V-8. A floor-shifted three-speed was the standard transmission, but
California-bound Montes came only with automatic.

Chevrolet promoted the 1979 as "a car that stands
apart," offering "a look, a feel, a personality all its own." Even
more tempting was an interior that "massages your spirit with easeful
luxury."

Who could resist such an invitation? Monte Carlo coupes could be
ordered with removable tinted-glass roof panels that fit into the trunk.

The 1980 Chevrolet Monte Carlo received its first facelift since being
"downsized" for 1977. The car got a new "eggcrate" grille
between rectangular side-by-side headlights, but was little changed otherwise,
at least on the outside.

Under the hood, it was a different story. Compared to 1979,
there was a slight shuffling of engine displacements and horsepower ratings,
with V-6s of 229 or 231 cubic inches, and V-8s of 267 or 305 cubic inches.
Horsepower ranged from 110 to 155. But added for 1980 was a turbocharged
version of Buick's 231-cubic-inch V-6 rated at 170 horsepower.

Unfortunately for performance buffs, the four-speed manual
transmission offered (but rarely ordered) for 1979 was dropped, making a
three-speed automatic the standard -- and only -- transmission.

Turbocharged
engines typically don't make much power at low speeds, so the automatic transmission
coupled with a tall 2.29:1 rear axle ratio meant that off-the-line punch wasn't
a Turbo Monte's strong suit. Indeed, its 13.0-second 0-60 time was little if
any better than with the 5.0-liter V-8 -- which cost $200 less.

Like any good personal-luxury coupe, the Monte Carlo offered a
host of "personalizing" options: Custom Cloth or Vinyl upholstery, a
bevy of sound systems (some with built-in CB radios), power
windows/locks/seats, power trunk opener, power sunroof, and "Removable
Glass Roof Panels," more commonly known as T-tops.

Along with most other Chevys, Monte Carlo prices were up
sharply. In 1979, a base V-6 coupe retailed for $5,333; for 1980, it was up to
$6,524. A Landau edition was also offered, which added a vinyl top, pin
striping, deluxe wheel covers, and visor vanity mirrors. At $250 more than a
base Monte, the Landau didn't sell as well.

But then Monte Carlos as a whole didn't sell very well. From
282,000 in 1979, sales dropped to only 126,000 for 1980. Increased prices were
partly to blame, but so was the gas crisis that labeled most traditional large
American cars as "guzzlers."

The 1980 Monte Carlo Sport Coupecame standard with a 3.8-liter V-6.

1980 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight range (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,104-3,219

$6,524-$6,852

148,842

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The Monte Carlo was the only 1981 Chevy to enjoy a sales increase.

The 1981 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo received a mild -- but much needed -- reskinning. The nose looked similar
to the 1980 edition but was lower, more squared off, and wore body-colored
bumpers.

In back, the 1981 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo replaced vertical taillights with horizontal lenses in a higher
tail that was likewise boxier and adorned with body-colored bumpers. The
sweeping fender creases that had long been a Monte Carlo trademark were still
in evidence but toned down in a more slab-sided profile.

Engine choices
were the same as before, though all were fitted with GM's new Computer Command
Control (CCC) emission system.

The base 229-cubic-inch V-6 dropped from 115
horsepower to 110, matching the 231-cubic-inch Buick V-6 substituted in
California. V-8s of 267- and 305-cubic-inch returned, with 115 and 150
horsepower, respectively, while the top power option was again the
170-horsepower turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6. Meanwhile, a lock-up torque
converter was added to the standard three-speed automatic transmission.

Like other GM
cars, Monte Carlo prices rose dramatically for 1981, the base model being up by
$775 to $7,299, the top-line Landau V-8 increasing by over $1,200 to $8,056.
Yet with the help of new styling, sales went up by over 25 percent to 187,850,
making Monte Carlo the only Chevrolet to boast higher volume for 1981.

The 1981 Monte Carlo was a handsome, if formal, coupe.

1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight range (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,102-3,228

$7,299-$8,056

187,850

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1982 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1982 Monte Carlo base model remained smart and handsome.

The 1982 Chevrolet Monte Carlo returned with only detail changes outside,
though there was some shuffling going on under the hood.

Moreover, with that year's discontinuation of the coupe version of the Chevrolet Malibu, Chevy began considering the Monte Carlo as much a
two-door variant of the Malibu as a model in its own right. Even the
Malibu's facelift that year echoed Monte Carlo styling themes.

Notable by its absence was the 3.8-liter turbocharged V-6 that had been
introduced in 1980. But replacing the turbo were a pair of diesels, a
105-horsepower 5.7-liter V-8 and an 83-horsepower 262-cubic-inch 4.3-liter V-6.

Even without competition from the extinct Malibu coupe, Monte
Carlo sales plummeted, from nearly 188,000 in 1981 to less than 93,000 for 1982
-- better than a 50-percent drop. But Chevy had some tricks up its sleeve for
the 1983 model year.

1982 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,190

$8,177-$8,247

92,392

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was little changedfrom 1982. Pictured is the base model, which wasavailable with gas and diesel V-6 and V-8 engines.

The 1983 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, like the mechanically similar Malibu, got only a slightly
revised grille to mark this version as an 1983 model. But midyear would
bring a whole new breed of Monte. As with Malibu, the small 4.4-liter
V-8 engine option was deleted.

Once
again, Chevy's 3.8-liter V-6 with 110 horsepower was standard in
49-state cars, while a similar Buick-built engine was used in
California. Optional were a 150-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8 and a pair of
diesels: a 4.3-liter V-6 with 85 horsepower and a 5.7-liter V-8 with
105 horsepower. Neither diesel proved very popular.

In
the spring of 1983, Chevy released the 1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.
This was an effort to rekindle the midsize Chevy muscle car, and it did
a credible job of it, given the performance parameters of the early
1980s.

SS badging, a small rear spoiler, and stiffer suspension also were included in the 1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.
Available only in white or dark metallic blue, it was a real "blast
from the past," with spirited acceleration the likes of which had not
been seen in a midsize Chevy for a very long time.

The 1984 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo took over as Chevy's sole midsize rear-wheel-drive car because the Chevrolet Malibu had been scratched from Chevy's lineup.

Changes to the 1984 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo were few,
encompassing mostly powertrain shuffling, though front bucket seats
with a required center console were added as an option.

Engine
choices remained the same as before, except that the 4.3-liter V-6
diesel was dropped due to lack of interest. The 105-horsepower 5.7-liter V-8 diesel
was still available, though not in California, where it couldn't pass
that state's emissions standards. The base 49-state engine was Chevy's
110-horsepower 3.8-liter V-6; California cars got a similar
Buick-built V-6.

A
150-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8 was optional on base versions of the 1984 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo. The Chevrolet Monte
Carlo SS
returned with its 180-horsepower 5.0-liter. All engines came
standard with a three-speed automatic transmission. A four-speed
automatic was optional on all but California's Buick V-6.

It's doubtful those disappointed in the demise of the Malibu, which was offered as a sedan or wagon, would now gravitate to a two-door Monte
Carlo. So something else must have prompted the 1984 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo's 40-percent
boost in popularity.

A good part of that "something else" was
performance, indicating that quick, good-looking coupes could still attract buyers.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007
model year. Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe

1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS was the only Monte Carlo modelthat didn't get more horsepower for 1985.

The 1985 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, Chevy's rear-wheel-drive personal-luxury car, got more power, but for the first time since 1981, no diesel engine was offered in
the Monte Carlo..

In
the 1985 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo base model, the previously standard 3.8-liter Chevy V-6 gave way to a
larger 4.3-liter V-6 with throttle-body fuel injection. That brought along 20
extra horsepower, for a new total of 130.

The optional 5.0-liter V-8 likewise gained some
ponies, via a jump in compression ratio. It jumped from 150
horsepower to 165. The High Output 5.0-liter V-8 in the 1985 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo SS remained at 180
horsepower.

The V-6 and base V-8 could be backed by either a three- or
four-speed automatic transmission, but the H.O. V-8 in the SS came only with
the four-speed this year.

Though the base
coupe carried on visually unchanged, the SS was a different story. Previously
offered only in white or dark blue metallic, color choices were expanded to
include silver, maroon, and black. "Removable glass roof panels"
(T-tops) came on board as a midyear option.

Despite its aging
design, nearly 120,000 Monte Carlos found eager buyers in 1985. Though the
total was down somewhat from 1984, the SS model saw sales climb from 24,050 to
35,484, a sure sign that performance was making a comeback.

Color choices for the 1985 Chevy Monte Carlo SS expandedfrom two to five, including this maroon hue.

1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight range (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,139-3,385

$9,540-$11,380

119,057

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The hot 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS shows off the wheel design that was new that year.

The 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo line was joined by a luxurious new LS model
with a distinctive aerodynamic nose, flush-mounted composite headlights, and
wraparound taillights.

Every 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo got a new instrument panel redesigned to
accept Delco electronic radios, and gauge graphics were revised. Retuned
suspensions with stiffer shocks were found throughout the line, while the SS
got new aluminum wheels.

Though engine choices were the same as before, power ratings
were revised somewhat. The standard 4.3-liter V-6 gained 10 horsepower to 140. The base 5.0-liter V-8 lost 15, dropping to 150. The H.O. 5.0 V-8 in the
Monte Carlo SS was unchanged at 180.

The V-6 came standard with a three-speed
automatic transmission, with a four-speed automatic optional; the V-8s came
only with the latter.

A special Monte Carlo SS model arrived at midyear in very
limited numbers. Called Aerocoupe, it featured a sloped rear window that made
the body more aerodynamic for use in NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car
Auto Racing) competition.

In order to make any such modification legal for
track use, NASCAR rules stated that the manufacturer had to build 200 copies
for sale to the general public -- and that's just what Chevrolet did. Those 200
have since become coveted collectors' items.

The 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was offered in LS and SS
models. The 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS came in notchback coupe and fastback Aerocoupe
versions.

The Aerocoupe was a limited-production special first seen for 1986. Only 200
were built to qualify the design for use in stock car racing. For 1987,
production was somewhat less limited: a total of 6052.

Standard engine in the 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS was the throttle-body-injected
4.3-liter V-6, now making five more horsepower for a total of 145. It was backed by a
three-speed automatic transmission.

Optional for the LS was the base 5.0-liter
carbureted V-8 making 150 horsepower. It was tied to a four-speed automatic; this transmission was optional on the V-6. The 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS models again got the H.O. carbureted 5.0-liter
V-8 with 180 horsepower.

The 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo became Chevy's sole remaining rear-drive six-passenger coupe. This was the result of Chevrolet discontinuing its full-size Caprice two-door body style after 1987.

The 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo changes included the addition of a four-speed
automatic as standard. And the fastback Aerocoupe version of the The Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS was
history. Just over 30,000 Montes were built in this swan-song season, more than
half being the SS version.

After a run of some 19 years, the Monte Carlo nameplate was
retired -- or should we say, granted a leave of absence. Go to the following pages to see how the name would be
resurrected in the 1990s to grace a rather different sort of personal-luxury
car.

The 1987 andd 1988 Monte Carlos were the last of the rear-wheel-drive Monte Carlos. This is 1987 Monte Carlo SS.

1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight range (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,283-3,526

$11,306-$14,838

79,045

1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight range (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,212-3,267

$12,330-$14,320

30,174

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1995 Monte Carlo was the two-doorversion of the new Lumina sedan.

The 1995 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo revived a name last used in 1988. The new 1995 Monte Carlo was aimed at an audience similar to the one that had been attracted to the personal-coupe rear-drive Montes.

The 1995 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, however, took a somewhat different engineering approach.

The 1995 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo was based on the same
front-wheel-drive platform as the four-door Chevy Lumina sedan. The two shared powertrains and had much the same
interior design.

As a coupe, however, the Monte Carl had a different roofline, and it's front and rear fascias were unique. Dual air bags were standard, as were
anti-lock brakes. Inside, the Monte sported a fake wood-grain stripe that ran
across the dash and into the doors, a "luxury" trim item left off the
more mainstream Lumina.

LS and Z34
versions of the 1995 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo were offered, The LS was equipped like the Lumina
LS sedan with a bench front seat affording six-passenger capacity. The LS used Chevy's 3.1-liter
V-6, which had gained 20 horsepower over the year before and was now rated at 160.

Standard
equipment on every 1995 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo included a four-speed automatic transmission, air conditioning, power
windows and locks, split-folding rear seat, Pass-key anti-theft system, and a
tachometer.

Like the Lumina,
the 1995 Monte Carlo faced some tough competition. Among domestic manufacturers, Ford's
rear-wheel-drive Thunderbird was perhaps the Monte's closest rival, and it
scored points with its available V-8 engine.

Chrysler joined the fray with a
new front-wheel-drive Sebring sport coupe that was smaller and less powerful
than the Monte Carlo, but was years ahead in styling and offered surprising
interior room. And then there was the overseas competition, notably the coupe
versions of the popular Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Consumer Guide Used Car Search:
In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned
vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and
trouble spots.

All
Chevrolet Monte Carlos:
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued in production through the 2007 model year.
Learn about the modern history of this stylish Chevy coupe.

1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1996 Monte Carlo was essentiallyunchanged in its second model year.

The 1996 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo personal luxury coupe, like its Chevy Lumina sedan counterpart, had few changes
but a handful of new options for its second year on the market.

LS and Z34
versions of the 1996 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo were again offered. Both came with dual air bags and anti-lock
brakes, though Z34s now boasted four-wheel discs.

Each model had its own
engine: The LS came with a 160-horsepower 3.1-liter V-6. The Z34 was
powered by a 3.4-liter Twin Dual Cam V-6 with 215 horsepower, five more than in
1995.

Both engines came with new five-year/100,000-mile coolant and
100,000-mile platinum-tipped spark plugs to extend service intervals.
Meanwhile, the standard four-speed automatic transmission got Dexron III fluid
that never needed replacement under normal driving conditions.

Newly standard on
1996 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo LS models were power mirrors. New options included a leather-wrapped
steering wheel with radio controls (standard on Z34), dual-zone temperature
controls, cargo-area convenience net (standard on Z34), and leather interior
with bucket seats. A power sunroof was scheduled for midyear introduction.

Monte
Carlo-bodied racers continued their winning ways on the stock-car tracks,
taking numerous events including the Daytona 500. Though the racing machines
shared little in common with their showroom brethren, the victories cast a halo
not only over the Monte Carlo, but over Chevrolet as well.

The Monte Carlo would continue for another decade as a front-drive two-door, making the 1997-2007 Monte Carlos fitting heirs to Chevy's personal-coupe legacy.

The Monte Carlo Z34 came standard with a3.4-liter Twin Dual Cam V-6.

1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Facts

Model

Weight range (lbs.)

Price range (new)

Number built

Monte Carlo

3,306-3,436

$17,255-$19,455

80,717

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.

Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.

Sports Cars:
Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these
captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.